Training Log Archive: Nadim

Hyannisport, MA. From Tanager Rd. Peggy, Max, Samantha, and I rode on Blue Jay Dr., Keel Way., Rudder Rd., Goat Rd., and Peackock Dr. this was our opportunity to shake out our legs and practice for Samantha to gain confidence to be able to ride elsewhere later on. The roads were pretty flat but the slight grade was a challenge for Samantha.

Earlier in the day we went to a glass factory in Sandwich. The factory had made blown glass but was more famous for it’s blown glass. We saw a demonstration of glass blowing. However, the pressed glass was much more impressive than I thought it’d be. The word/name “Sandwich” became synonymous for its pressing glass—it was done between 2 wood cut blocks. We had a nice lunch in Sandwich.

We checked into the house we’re renting after lunch. Samantha was pretty excited and getting an new room for a week. It was hot and humid but it was after we’d unpacked and got the A/C turned on inside that we assembled our bikes outside and got riding.

Boston, MA. Peggy, Max, Samantha, and I started the day late with seeing the USS Constitution, the more modern USD Caison, and the old dry dock. The sailors on the USD Constitution told Greg stories bringing to life the way the sailors lived. We next walked the Freedom Trail to the Paul Revere House. We went past the old church where the warning lanterns were hind to signify the method that the British traveled to return control of the old city. We also wandered an old graveyard before getting to Paul Revere’s house. After this we walked back. We thought we’d see the Maparrium, but it had closed. We saw the Halls, enjoying a nice dinner and ice cream with them too!

North of Newport, Rhode Island. Peggy, Max, Samantha, and I pedaled our way along Mount Hope Bay on railroad tracks with the help of Rail Explorers Rhode Island. We pedaled a 4 person, single speed , heavy metal car. It was surprisingly easy to move and even more surprisingly easy to stop, with a single bicycle style hand break. It was about 90F but we had a breeze coming off the water. Much of the ride seemed downhill but the GPS track shows a 6m climb. We had to keep our pace so that we wouldn’t bump into another car and stay about 50m apart. Our speed thus varied between 5 and 12mph. I’d been worried about doing this so soon after surgery but it wasn’t bad. The worst for the ride was my butt getting sore. I didn’t sweat a lot

Earlier in the day we drove across Connecticut with a stop in Mystic for lunch. After the rail experience we drove the 10mile Ocean Drive around Newport. Fabulous old and new mansions were to be seen. Some had iron gates around them and others had rock gardens with ocean views. We didn’t take any tours. We stopped in Bretton Point State Park where Portuguese sailors discovered the area and later helped establish the town. It was all very beautiful.

I had an early morning trip to my orthopedist. He seemed to think things were progressing but kept warning about changing dressings and keeping dry to keep infection from happening. Stitches are to come off on Monday and Peggy is to do that! We had a second doctor stop to x-ray Max’s finger. Lifting with his back to the basement floor 2 nights earlier, he’d dropped hand weights onto his fingers and was still having trouble. Max check ed out okay. With his trip to the doctors we fulfilled our quota of Max trips to visit doctors while on vacation.

Peggy drove us to Jersey City. We walked to the pier and got ferries to Ellis Island and to the Statue of Liberty. The exhibits at Ellis Island were moving and so relevant to today. It showed one of the greatest things this country had done and why we had such a good world reputation. There were sad stories about the fear and hopes of people reaching US land and not being sure if they’d be admitted—2% were sent back after medical and mental tests (Do you start washing stair floors from the top or the bottom?—one answer was I didn’t come to America to wash stairs). Some were sick from diseased homelands or transport ship; Ship fares covered the cost of housing and feeding them; possibly the medical care given too. Striking also were the descriptions of the poverty that people were fleeing from. That made me think about what lead to that in thier many home countries. Finally, reading the stories of elation from those who looked back on their emigration—“I work”, or paraphrased “making a dollar a day here I am living better than a lord in my country”.

I was again dragging as we were seeing the Statue. It was more than the sunny heat. I took the elevator and was okay walking the last flight to the pedestal level. The wind there and impressive views over the water to NY city was nice. An actor playing the statue designer Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, talked with us and was happy that people added their association of “welcoming” to his original design intent of “illumination” and colossal freedom fo the world.

C • Great stories. Thanks for s... 1

Better again as far as moving around, but worn out by the evening.

Got a bit worn out teleworking late and finishing up to get ready for two weeks of R&R. After final packing Max helped load up the car. We never were able to remove the hitch bicycle rack from Peggy’s car and put it onto the van. Using more than one YouTube how-to-do it instruction, I had even tied the rack to a tree and tried to drive it off, but stayed stuck. We got all 4 bikes and our luggage in.

My mobility continues to get better. I sat in my desk chair most of the day again, but this time it was for telework. By the end of the day, I was getting up and down with little trouble. I could lean forward for a good while without pain.

C • Heal Well! 4

I started feeling better just before midnight on Saturday. I had to wake up every 60-90 minutes to pee. The constipation abated and I made it to dinner out with family and friends Bob and Ben.